"You know how to use it yet?" Dan Heng asked beside me.
"No, I'm trying, but so far, no," I grumbled, feeling so lost on how to activate this damn watch. I'd been trying, tweaking it for the past few minutes to see if I could get a gist on how to turn it on, but all attempts had not borne any fruit so far. I tried asking Himeko about it, but since she was busy handling the goons of the Anti-Legion, I couldn't find time to ask.
"It's alright. We understand," Dan Heng tried to assure me, but that didn't help my self-loathing.
"I want to at least prove myself useful, you know." Besides, I was forced here. I knew it was better to be useful than to be a burden to them. Even Stelle proved useful with her combat abilities against the bad guys.
"There can be other ways to be useful."
I scratched my head. "I guess so." All I was doing was trying not to be a burden to them.
"Keep an eye out, everyone. We're on the platform," Himeko announced as the door opened.
"Yay! Finally!" March expressed her excitement as she jumped. She walked ahead of the group, her head turning in every direction.
My eyes moved elsewhere. I'd been to the platform of the space station before when I was assigned to move some stuff to the storage zone. This part of the space station was large and dangerously open. Of course, you had the shields to protect you from falling into the void of space, but that didn't mean you were necessarily okay falling a hundred feet down.
I shuddered when I was near the edge despite the railing to prevent everyone from falling. As my gaze fell downward, I felt a lump in my throat. Yeah, that was not a good decision to look down. It was as if I was staring Death in the eyes. It was then that Dan Heng spoke.
"The Express isn't here." His voice carried caution as he looked over to where the Astral Express was supposed to be. Just by looking at his expression, I had a bad feeling.
"It has to be nearby. Let me take a peek with my sharp eyes," March stated as she ran even farther ahead, without any care for danger.
"Be careful, March."
"I will, Ms. Himeko. Don't worry!" March gave a cute pose before turning her back on us.
"I don't think she should be doing that." Again, I had a bad feeling, and when I have this kind of feeling, I know something bad is about to happen. Well, not always, but sometimes.
I took a glance at Stelle, who seemed to be… uncomfortable about something. I tilted my head curiously. 'What's up with her?' Ever since we started getting near the platform, her face had grown so uncomfortable that I couldn't help but notice it.
"Hey, you alright there, Stelle?" I asked, placing my hand on her shoulder. She stiffened, which brought her gaze to break and land on me.
Okay, that was weird.
"I'm fine. It's just that something isn't quite right about this," Stelle said, frowning.
Ah, I get it now. She was worried. "You feel it too, huh?" I nodded, showing that I felt the same. She looked surprised before a smile replaced her frown.
Dan Heng, who was beside me, suddenly shouted, "March, wait!"
Then I felt it. All the hair on my body stood on end. A loud roar, akin to a large beast or something more, erupted like a box of fireworks being lit at the same time, while also shaking the platform beneath us. I looked over to where I assumed it was and saw the Doomsday Beast flying around in the endless vast space, just outside the platform.
"It's really here," Himeko's worried voice broke the silence.
This was not good, not good. I gulped as I took a step back. The rest did as well but all maintained their fighting stance. March brought out her bow as she strictly aimed at the dragon.
'I don't think an ice arrow can do any damage to that fucker,' I thought grimly.
"Get down here!" March declared as she pulled her bowstring.
"Everyone! Get back!" Dan Heng suddenly shouted, pulling March in the process, who yelped in surprise. I ran immediately after the first word was said, but it seemed I was too late. There was a loud bang, and what followed was a strong force that managed to hurl me several meters forward. I bounced off the ground, hard, several times before lying flat on my back.
'My back,' I gritted my teeth in pain while I tried to lift myself.
"Ethan!" Stelle's voice rang out but was overshadowed by the Doomsday Beast's roar. I turned to them and saw they appeared to be okay. Wait, why was I the only one who seemed hurt here? Damn it, unfair fuckers.
"He'll be fine, Stelle. We need to focus on the Doomsday Beast first," Dan Heng's urgent voice followed.
"He's right, Stelle, I'll be fine," I said after standing back on my two legs. Ouch, my back. Stelle's attention was brought back to me. I continued, "In fact, I'll just hide in that group of boxes over there." I pointed to the area I assumed to be safe.
Stelle appeared hesitant, but I gave her a reassuring thumbs-up before she eventually nodded. Her attention tore away from me and back toward the main problem.
The Doomsday Beast.
'What did I do to deserve this?' I thought as I lifted my head.
++++====+++
Stelle POV
"Ethan!" I called out in worry as I saw him lying on the ground, clearly in pain. When I started to approach him, I heard Dan Heng voice behind me, "He'll be fine, Stelle. We need to focus on the Doomsday Beast first."
I stared at Dan Heng, unsure of what to do. Should I help Ethan first or...?
"He's right, Stelle, I'll be fine," Ethan suddenly spoke. I turned my gaze back to him. "In fact, I'll just hide in that group of boxes over there."
I bit my lip, hesitating for a moment. However, when he gave me a thumbs up, the hesitation quickly faded, replaced by a determined look. I nodded and firmly turned my attention back to the problem at hand. My hands gripped tightly on the baseball bat held in my hand. I drew a breath. This way, they will all be safe.
"What's the plan, Ms. Himeko?" March asked nervously. I noticed Dan Heng's eyes didn't leave the Doomsday Beast.
With March's sudden change of expression, unlike earlier, when she seemed more confident. I couldn't help but tease. "What happened to your confidence earlier?"
"Hey! It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and Dan Heng just had to ruin it for me," March protested, glaring at the person she deemed responsible.
"It's either that or you'd get seriously hurt," Dan Heng coldly responded.
"Dears, this is no time for chit-chatting." Himeko's voice made us turn our attention to her. "We have to attack with everything we've got until Welt arrives."
"How long will that be?" I asked curiously.
Himeko shook her head. "I don't know."
We watched as the shield began to fracture, cracks visibly growing larger as it struggled to hold. Eventually, parts of the shield shattered, allowing the Doomsday Beast to breach the station. Only half of its enormous body was visible to us, while its lower part remained hidden below the platform. My expression hardened as I gripped the handle of my baseball bat tightly and rushed forward. Dan Heng and March followed closely behind.
March unleashed a rain of arrows at the Doomsday Beast, and ice shards erupted on its body, but they barely made an impact. It merely shrugged them off before raising its massive hand and attempting to sweep us off the edge. I leaped, narrowly avoiding the attack. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dan Heng leap onto its arm, sprinting toward its head. His spear struck the creature, sending off sparks, but the effort proved futile as Dan Heng was thrown off and crashed to the ground hard.
A flying robot zoomed past me, the same one that had saved us near the elevator, and charged straight at the Doomsday Beast. Its circular blades barely scratched its armor before it was caught and crushed by the Beast's massive hand.
Despite the failed attempts to harm it, I remained undeterred and charged forward without hesitation. The baseball bat in my hand started glowing fiercely.
"Rules are made to be broken!" I shouted as I closed in, landing a direct blow on its body. The Doomsday Beast roared in pain, or so it seemed.
I blinked, pausing for a moment. "It worked?" I stared in surprise, feeling a bit proud. But the moment was brief as the Beast roared fiercely, pushing me back and eventually sending me flying, just as it had done to Dan Heng.
"Stelle!" March cried out in concern, rushing over to help. I held up a hand, signaling that I was okay.
Quickly, I got back on my feet and saw its hand beginning to glow. What followed was something that emerged from its body, it was cube-like object with a dark orb at its center. The Doomsday Beast's hands glowed a brilliant yellow as it began absorbing the cube, eventually coating half of its arm in gold.
"It's getting a power-up? Seriously?!" March exclaimed with alarm. "That's so unfair!"
Dan Heng watched the scene unfold with a frown. "It's going to attack," he reminded everyone as we started to fall back once again.
"Everyone, get behind me!" Himeko shouted.
We immediately followed her command and gathered behind her. Himeko brought out another gadget similar to the robot earlier, but bigger. "Hold on!"
As soon as those words were said, the Doomsday beast let out a roar before swiping its arm, releasing some kind of energy blast toward us. Thankfully, whatever Himeko brought out deflected the blast.
"What was that?!" March cried out, fear laced in her voice.
"Are you guys okay?" Himeko asked as she looked over her shoulder.
"We're fine, Ms. Himeko. Thank you for the cover," Dan Heng said, before assessing the situation. "That was an Imaginary-type attack. That cube at the center is the source of all that energy. If we don't destroy it quickly, it will become even more destructive."
"I can do it," I volunteered, raising my hand.
Dan Heng stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
"My bat—when I hit it, it felt pain," I tried to explain, adding vivid descriptions with my hands.
Dan Heng appeared to consider my words as he nodded. "Alright, we'll cover you."
I nodded, giving a thumbs up.
"Be careful out there, Stelle," Himeko said, her face serious.
"I will, Ms. Himeko," I nodded firmly just to assure her worry.
"Stelle, just say when you're ready. I'll cover you," March said, wearing a confident smile as she readied her bow.
With a quick breath, I prepared myself as I stared up at the Doomsday Beast. But before I could make a move, a bright light illuminated March's side. I held my bat ready to make a move to whatever it was but when the light faded, I stared in shock at who appeared from the light.
'Ethan?'
+++====+++
Ethan's POV: A Few Minutes Ago...
While the rest of the Astral Express crew was busy dealing with the Doomsday Beast, I was nowhere near them. True to my word earlier, I hid behind a sturdy cover of boxes, but I had enough of a view to watch the fight—safely, of course. Still, I wasn't doing any sightseeing; rather...
"Damn you, stupid watch. Work, goddammit," I spat angrily as I tapped my watch repeatedly. Seeing no progress so far, I was really tempted to punch this watch. Eventually, I let out a sigh after realizing that everything I did didn't work whatsoever. Complaining about it was useless.
'Well, there goes my chance of helping them,' I thought, staring at the ceiling. I wasn't the type of person to give up easily, but man, this watch wouldn't work no matter what I did. I wasn't a technician in my past life, so I had no clue how watches work. Like any average human, I tried and failed.
They can handle it, right? I curiously looked toward the fight taking place. Watching it with a grim expression, I realized that they seemed to be on the losing side.
If they fail, doesn't that mean the space station is doomed? I pondered, seeing that possibility. I really wondered if Lady Asta had contacted some sort of space military to help us out by now. That would be really helpful at the moment.
Yet, there was one thing I hadn't tried yet to activate the watch. It was risky, to say the least...
I recalled how my watch activated the first time. It only responded due to an emergency regarding my life. If I put myself in danger, wouldn't that activate the watch?
I began seriously considering that option but eventually decided against it.
'Nah, I'm not risking my life for that.' I was too much of a coward. For the record, I wasn't even sure if it would activate again. It didn't activate when we were surrounded by the Legion at that time, which made me doubt whether it was only a one-time thing.
When my attention returned to the fight, the Doomsday beast's arms were now glowing. 'A power-up? Seriously?'
[Higher Energy Detected]
I blinked. Wait, that voice—
[Analyzing Energy Compatibility...]
I quickly turned my head to see my watch, the once black screen now brightly lit.
[Compatibility Assessed]
[Conclusion: 83% Compatible]
[Requirement Met]
[Detecting Host is Far from Source]
[Conclusion: Host is Afraid]
[Evaluating...]
[Solution: Force]
Eh? Force? What did it mean by that? I stared at the watch strangely. Why did I feel like there was a bad feeling rising in the air?
[Evaluating Distance]
[Distance Evaluated]
[Teleportation Power Remaining: 2%]
[Analyzing...]
[Conclusion: Power Sufficient for Travel]
[Initiating Teleportation Power...]
I stared in silence, confused was the word I'd use to describe what I was feeling right now. What the heck is teleportation power gonna do—
Before I knew it, I was shunned in bright light. My vision turned white for a brief moment before I regained my sight, finding myself in an unexpected place.
"Ethan? How are you here?!" I looked to the side and saw March's eyes widen at the sight of me. I blinked, not knowing what to say in response.
"The fuck?" That was the only word I could muster. What happened?
I looked behind me and saw the rest of the group with total disbelief on their faces. "Uhm, I can explain?"
Stelle's eyes narrowed at me. "Are you a ghost?" Oi, watch where you're pointing your bat to. Friendly fire here!
"Why would you think that?" I asked, but before she could respond, her eyes widened in shock. I raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in her expression, following her gaze as it drifted past me and upwards.
Wait, upwards?
I turned around just in time to see the Doomsday Beast's head glowing brightly like a light bulb. Unfortunately, yet expectedly, a beam shot from it, heading dangerously toward us.
"Run!" Dan Heng shouted but it was too late as the beam itself was within reach. Suddenly, Stelle quickly stepped in between me and March and pushed both of us back together in the process.
"Stelle!" Both me and March shouted. Is she stupid or something?!
"Ahh!" Stelle screamed in pain as her body blocked the beam from hitting us. Her body erupted in a strange bright glow and I could only watch helplessly. I curled my hand into a fist. Damn it.
[Higher Energy Detected at Close Proximity]
[Initiating Absorption…]
I watched in a mixture of surprise and horror as some parts of the beam went past Stelle and headed straight to my watch. As the beam connected itself to the watch, I felt an unimaginable amount of pain.
"AH!" I couldn't help but scream. It was like having thousands of needles penetrating my body at the same time. I wasn't bleeding or experiencing any sort of physical brutality; rather, the pain was coming from the inside.
[Detecting Pain from Host]
[Analyzing...]
[Conclusion: Cannot Abort the Process of Absorption. May Result in Soul Disaggregation.]
[Solution: Endure]
'You stupid watch!' I gritted my teeth, but the watch didn't stop what it was doing. It even continued to suck out more energy than before. Was it hungry or something?! And the fuck is Endure?!
"Ethan, what's wrong?!" Himeko's voice cried out in concern as I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was comforting but that wasn't really doing anything to ease the pain.
[51% Complete...]
"Help...her," I said between pained breaths. Fuck, I was in somewhat okay condition, but the same couldn't be said for Stelle. She took the entire attack by herself. I just hope that somehow, plot armor will keep her safe. She's a protagonist, after all.
[71% Complete...]
[Assurance: Host Does Not Need to Worry. Possibility of Dying is Less Than 30%]
'Fuck you!' You saved me once, and now you're gonna kill me by the next? The fuck is this, a toxic relationship? There were so many things I wanted to say but thanks to the pain I had to swallow it.
"Uhm, Ms. Himeko, what's happening to Stelle?" I heard March's voice laced with worry and fear.
Curious, I lifted my face, though it was difficult to do so, and saw Stelle's body suddenly erupt in a bright yellow glow. Not only that, she was screaming more intensely this time.
I blinked. Wait, why do I feel like she was about to explode?
"AHH!!!" The glow intensified to the point that whatever that glow was, it almost acted like a shield around her. Worse, it was expanding.
Ah, right. I should have kept those thoughts to myself.
[89% Complete...]
I saw Stelle release some sort of wave, not toward us but aimed directly at the Doomsday Beast. What happened next shocked me. The Doomsday Beast was nowhere to be found after like that blast obliterated it from existence. Seriously, it was gone just like that? That was anticlimactic to be honest.
I continued to watch as Stelle started to float, the glow on her chest area intensifying.
[97% Complete...]
Strangely, the pain was suddenly gone, replaced by a trace of dizziness and tiredness. Also, my head felt light for some reason. I felt like I could stumble and fall without even realizing it.
"Ms. Himeko! What's happening to them?!"
"Dan Heng, support Ethan."
"On it."
"Wait—Is that Mr. Yang? Mr. Yang!!"
[100% Complete]
[Energy Transfer Completed]
[All Elements Are Now at Full Capacity]
[Higher Energy Abnormality Detected]
[Solution: Fusion]
[Initiating Fusion of Current Energy and Higher Energy]
[Calculating...]
[Calculated]
[Assessment: Fusion Failed]
[Solution: Reboot]
[Success rate 95%]
[Permission Needed - NONE]
[Initiating…]
I hung my head low, my eyes closed. Yet I was still aware of the conversation that followed.
"Am I late?"
"No, you were just right on time."
"What happened to Stelle, Mr. Yang? Is she...?"
"I just knocked her out. The Stellaron in her body started to grow berserk. It had to be done, but don't worry, she's safe."
"Phew, I was worried there for a sec."
"Who's that boy over there?"
"Ah, that's Ethan—Wait, Ethan!"
"Dan Heng, can you check up on him?"
I felt a palm on my chest. "His breathing is slow. I don't know what's happening to him."
I tried to say something but was cut off—
[Initiated]
[Reboot will now commence]
[Warning: Host Will Enter a Deep Sleep to Avoid Any Soul-Related Injuries. Be assured]
After that, my consciousness started to slip away and eventually, I blacked out.